HEALTH CARE

When you are healthy, you will enjoy life much more and that includes withstanding stresses and challenges which confront you in the workplace.

For this reason, we have created our HEALTH CARE page so you have access to valuable information.  While life does not consist of any absolute health guarantees, history and statistics clearly show that when you take care of your body, you will normally live longer.

One of the tremendous challenges for today’s worker is when you are having to work your job AND care for an elderly member of your family who is not in good health.  Sometimes, you may find yourself in the position of having to make one of the most difficult decisions of your life:   What am I going to do with mom or dad who is no longer able to remain in his or her home because around-the-clock care is needed.

Because of this tremendous challenge, Worker Ministries provides you with some excellent information on this page which you can use to locate the RIGHT nursing home or assisted living facility. We hope this will of benefit to you because we recognize that the combination of work pressures and family pressures can also have a negative effect on your own health. 

AN  URGENT  HEALTHY  MESSAGE  TO ALL WORKERS FROM  KATHY PERKINSON, VICE PRESIDENT WORKER MINISTRIES

Like many female workers, Kathy faces the difficult challenges of a working mom while also serving as the Manager of Molecular Pathology at Duke University Medical Center.    Kathy Perkinson is a dedicated worker who need not be ashamed, which enables her to serve as a trusted advisor to our ministry on work ethics and related family values and on promoting the Christian work ethic.  

Here is her message:

During his childhood days, Jim Hogsett had a dream of becoming as rich as his Aunt Kay and Uncle Matt who were well off due to their hard work, careful spending, and saving.   I well recall a very important lesson which that aunt taught Jim that has remained with him throughout his adult life.  She said, “Jim, just remember that money is not everything.  If you don’t have your health, your money won’t amount to very much because you won’t enjoy having it.”

That is a lesson which needs to be digested by every worker!

In his book A Worker Need Not Be Ashamed,  Jim tells the true story of his visit to his doctor for an annual physical in 1987.  He became very disturbed as the doctor was discussing his health condition.  He quickly learned that he had one foot in the casket and one foot on the ground!  

His cholesterol was 258.  (Less than 200 is normal.)  His weight was 212 BIG pounds which exceeded the healthy limit of 195 based on his height.  And, he was smoking an average of two packs of “cancer sticks” each day!

As he left his doctor's office, Jim felt somewhat depressed.  He thought, “THREE STRIKES and you may be out of here."  He concluded that his  life could end at any moment because he  had failed to take the necessary steps to protect his body!   He also felt ashamed because he was actually destroying what could, otherwise, be a healthy body which had been given to him by his Creator!

Thank God, he woke up to reality and immediately made some significant lifestyle changes. As a result, he now weighs190, his cholesterol is rarely above 170, he gets plenty of rest, and exercises daily including three days of vigorous exercise on his treadmill.  And, he never allows “cancer sticks” to return to his healthy body.

Oh yes, he still eats those delicious eggs and bacon and pancakes for breakfast but only once or twice a week. His normal breakfast is fruit served over hot or cold cereal with low fat milk.    He still eats a steak but only once every two months or so.  He still enjoys chocolate cream pie at least three times per week! 

In fact, he estimates that approximately 85 per cent of his diet is the same as it has always been.  But, the "bad foods" are eaten in strict moderation.  His doctor subscribes to Jim's plan because Jim believes that a diet should consist of a variety of foods including a few which may not be the best ones but which are overcome by so many good things which you eat!   That’s just one secret to a pleasant but healthful diet.

You do not have to follow Jim Hogsett's plan to be healthful.  There are plenty of avenues to a healthy body and you should always discuss any strategy with your physician.  But, whatever is decided should be your commitment to both you, your family, and your creator that you WILL stay the course and take care of your body that has been wonderfully made by our God!

God tells us that our body is His temple.  I am to keep my body clean from anything which could damage it.  That is especially significant in my case because He has blessed Jim Hogsett and me with superior health!

If you would like to have a copy of the specific diet plan which Jim Hogsett consistently uses, contact us and it will be sent to you immediately, compliments of Worker Ministries!

Have a happy healthy body!

Kathy Perkinson, Vice President                                             WORKER  MINISTRIES

 

BEHIND -THE -SCENE  REPORTS  ON  NURSING  HOMES  AND  ASSISTED  LIVING  FACILITIES

You need to have the FACTS pertaining to any nursing home or assisted living before committing one of your loved ones or friends to their care!   BEWARE!  Some of the information which you can access on this page is SHOCKING!

Special Report:  Turnover of Health Care Nursing Assistants - Causes and Cures 

Worker Ministries has conducted an extensive 42-month study on turnover among employees who work in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and physician offices.  The study was conducted for two reasons:

·        To help family members of elderly relatives to know the true story of WHY they may find that service to their loved one is not good.  Family members need to KNOW what takes place “behind the scenes” which can adversely affect that quality of care for our elderly citizens who live in these facilities.

·        To provide a tool that can be used by administrators and supervisors in making a dramatic reduction in turnover PROVIDED health care managers desire to eliminate this problem which is plaguing the health care industry!

Click here to read the entire 39-page report.

Evaluation of Nursing Homes:    Click here   to visit Nursing Home Compare. This tool has detailed information about every Medicare and Medicaid-certified nursing home in the country. Before you get started, you or your family member may have other long-term care choices like community-based services, home care, or assisted living depending on your needs and resources.  

Assisted Living and Nursing Homes:    You may also contact the Department of Health and Human Services in your state capital and ask them to give you the web site which you can visit for information on quality of  facilities including assisted living.   

For example, anyone wishing to access the following information about these facilities located in North Carolina can click on the links below. 

1. STAR  RATING:  The North Carolina Star Rated Certificate program for assisted living facilities, also called adult care homes and family care homes, was established in response to requests of North Carolina citizens for increased availability of public information regarding the care provided in adult care facilities. The rules are based on General Statute 131D-10, and were created by the N.C. Medical Care Commission with input from residents and families in adult care homes, advocacy groups, providers, and others.  Click here to access rating for a specific assisted living facility in North Carolina.  

2. PENALTIES:   These include fines assessed against specific long term health care facilities in North Carolina .     

One possible result of an inspection is the imposition of fines due to a "Type A" violation, which is defined as a condition or conditions that have resulted in death or serious physical harm to a resident or are likely to result in death or serious physical harm. The range for a "Type A" violation is $500.00 to $10,000 for each Type A violation in homes licensed for six or fewer beds and $1,000 to $20,000 for each Type A violation in facilities licensed for seven or more beds.

Examples of a Type A violation include the following:

• A confused resident who is not properly supervised, wanders away from the facility and as a result, his or her safety is endangered or the resident suffers serious physical harm; or

• A wrong medication is given to a resident by facility staff which has the strong potential of adversely affecting the resident or the resident suffers serious physical harm.

Another sanction that could result in the imposition of fines would be due to a "Type B" violation, which is an identified condition which impacts the quality of care of the residents in the adult care home but has not been corrected by the facility after the state has allowed the facility a reasonable period of time to correct. The range for a "Type B" violation is up to $400.00 for each day that the deficiency facility fails to correct the noncompliance by continues beyond the date specified for correction without just reason for such failure.

Examples of a Type B violation include the following:

• Several resident have orders to receive over the counter pain medications every morning but on one morning, staff forget to give the residents the medication.

• The residents suffer no ill consequence from the missed doses and subsequent doses are given as ordered.

• The facility is cited a Type B violation for the non-compliance and on a follow-up visit, additional medication errors are noted; therefore, the facility is fined up to $400/day until compliance with medication administration is achieved, which must be verified by another follow-up visit.

• The facility's pest management program is not effective and insects are noted in a couple of resident rooms on one out of two halls in the facility.

• The facility is cited a Type B violation for the non-compliance and on a follow-up visit, additional insects are noted; therefore, the facility is fined up to $400/day until compliance with pest management is achieved, which must be verified by another follow-up visit.

          Click here to locate penalties assessed against specific nursing home   and assisted living facilities located in North Carolina being evaluated     by you.

 

Home     About Jim    Publications     Seminars
Newsletter   Ask Jim     Itinerary    Contact Us   Healthcare

Site Templates Designed by Rick Martin.
Copyright © 2010   Worker Ministries.   All Rights Reserved.